Eastbourne Town look on the bright side - despite local football's many setbacks

At a sharp but shining bright Saffrons on Saturday afternoon, Eastbourne Town were entertaining Horsham YMCA – they achieved a 3-2 victory, but more of that later – and their ever-affable chairman Tony Guarino looked out on the men in yellow and blue and reflected.

While, above them, the National League has donned the protective armour of its elite status and soldiered on, and the Isthmian League has been obliged to suspend activities at steps three and four, the Southern Combination has quietly gone about its business.

Admittedly, since Saturday, things have changed.

The SCFL has suspended fixtures over growing Covid-related fears. That will be reviewed as early as December 31 but games won’t resume before January 9.

Nevertheless, up to this point, SCFL clubs have found a way – just as they will again, as soon as they are allowed to restart.

“We had a late start, of course, but allowing for that, our fixtures are now virtually up to date,” said Guarino, speaking before the suspension.

“The latest government directives mean all lower league football in Covid Tier Four (including Kent and Hastings & Rother) has just been put on hold, but our division has no members further east than Little Common.

“We’ve stressed to any players living further afield that they will not be required to play or train, unless and until it is permitted. Everyone understands.”

What have been the practicalities of staging games?

“As you can see, the matchdays are quite manageable. We take temperatures and mobile numbers at the gate, and all the spectators are happy to co-operate.

“The ground has an attendance limit of 300 – and one of our committee has just done a circuit of the perimeter with a “clicker”, and come back with this afternoon’s total attendance just shy of our maximum.”

Add in a few officials and a Herald reporter, and Town were able to tweet their claim to the day’s largest step five crowd in England!

Boss John Lambert gave the team their final pep-talk on the pitch at 2.50pm, and the players stayed out at half-time.

“Dressing rooms aren’t off limits but it’s six at a time for changing and three at a time for the showers,” chuckled Guarino. “We also sadly have the tea-bar and clubhouse closed, which means a loss of income, but financially we are managing.”

Members of Eastbourne’s football community – even with their share of friendly rivalries – have a habit of seeking out a local game wherever they can, and The Saffrons was rippling with friendly faces on Saturday.

“It’s absolutely true about the social and mental benefits,” said Guarino. “We need our fix of football, we need each other, and the games offer a bit of normality and reassurance.

The SCFL suspension comes as a blow because Town were due to face Eastbourne United on Boxing Day morning.

And now the second half of the season holds major uncertainties.

“If the situation nationally does not get any worse, there is no reason why we shouldn’t see the season through,” Guarino said.

“But the most maddening prospect would be a repeat of last spring, when Town were going strong, with a good prospect of the title – then the season had to be abandoned.”

On Saturday’s evidence, Tony Guarino and his Town colleagues will at very least be in the mix if and when the Southern Combination season reaches its climax.

Lambert’s men have put behind them one or two recent stutters, and after a well-earned 2-2 draw at rivals Saltdean last week, they claimed all three points against a decent Horsham YMCA side.

An early lead through Nathan Crabb was cancelled out by YM’s flimsily defended equaliser on the half-hour, but then two quick strikes at the start of the second half by George Taggart and Dan Perry seemed to have set Town on cruise control for victory.

YM pulled one goal back to keep the contest very much open. But the home side managed the final stages well for a deserved 3-2 win.

And off the field, meanwhile, our local clubs are equally determined not to be beaten...